What kind of place is this? Shi Hao was utterly astonished. He had learned from the Dragon Fairy that the Ten Crown King had taken that crucial step forward with the help of a small tree, becoming invincible under the heavens.
And such a thing was actually found in the Immortal Ancient, in a certain location. Even Ning Chuan’s Dao-enlightenment treasure had come from there. It was truly eerie.
“Let’s go. We must take a look. I’m very eager.” Before anyone else could speak, the Glyph Stone was the first to grow restless.
“I’m hungry. I want to eat something first,” Shi Hao said, rubbing his stomach.
The others rolled their eyes. At his level of cultivation, absorbing the essence of the world should suffice. A single deep breath of heaven and earth’s energy could replenish his needs. What hunger was he talking about?
“You can’t actually be that glutton the deranged old man was talking about, can you?” The little rabbit glared at him with her crimson eyes.
The others also gave him strange looks, thinking it made sense.
“That was just a senile old man spouting nonsense. You actually believe him? He even wanted to bury his own disciple—clearly he was possessed. Don’t take him seriously,” Shi Hao retorted.
Then, curling his lips, he added, “If I were that person, I’d sweep through the nine heavens and ten earths, crushing all enemies without leaving any trouble behind.”
“What if you don’t belong to this ancient history… or there’s some other reason?” the little fatty muttered.
“Fatty, have you been infected by your master’s madness too? What nonsense are you spouting?” Shi Hao shot back.
“I never said the person we’re looking for is definitely you,” Cao Yusheng whispered.
“So hungry,” Shi Hao groaned, clutching his growling stomach as he strode ahead, showing none of the dignity befitting someone who had “taken that crucial step.”
Cao Yusheng shook his head vigorously. He felt he had indeed been tormented enough by his crazy master and was now infected. Otherwise, why would he keep comparing everyone he saw?
Outside, the cultivators of various sects felt that things had been too quiet lately. For half a year, nothing major had happened in the Immortal Ancient.
Those who were keeping an eye on Shi Hao and wanted to know his current state were frustrated. The Three Thousand Azure Stone Path was shrouded in mist, making it impossible to see what was happening to him.
Only recently, when someone inscribed his name again, they saw violent fluctuations erupt there—terrifyingly intense—before everything vanished once more.
“Don’t tell me he succeeded in seclusion and took that step,” an Heavenly Deity murmured.
In truth, whether Shi Hao was in seclusion or out of it, they couldn’t see him clearly. At this level, the workings of fate were obscured, impossible to pry into.
It wasn’t until Shi Hao fully integrated the immortal energy into his flesh, concealing all traces of it, that they could see him again.
Even after half a year, the people of the Immortal Palace still gnashed their teeth at the sight of him, seething with hatred, wishing they could charge into the Immortal Ancient and kill him for revenge.
Soon, other sects also lost their composure. The words the guy shouted as he emerged from the Three Thousand Azure Stone Path were simply too infuriating.
“Hahaha… people of the Demon Dragon Dao Gate, creatures of the Fire Cloud Cave, I’m coming! Where are you? I’m so hungry!”
His demeanor was wild and unrestrained, like a demon king emerging to hunt and fill his belly.
The sects he named were renowned across the Upper Realm, their disciples considered elites. Yet, this guy saw them as food.
Of course, everyone knew he wasn’t joking.
Especially the Demon Dragon Dao Gate—their hatred burned the fiercest. Their first-generation disciple, a flood dragon, had been the first creature Shi Hao devoured in the Immortal Ancient.
Upon entering a minor world, Shi Hao began inquiring about the whereabouts of his enemies from various sects.
“You… looking for them for a reason?” someone asked suspiciously.
“Of course. I’m starving to death,” Shi Hao replied.
Some were baffled, but others pointed him toward a direction, telling him that the creatures of the Demon Sunflower Garden were in a nearby ruin.
Only after Shi Hao and his group left did a few people begin whispering among themselves.
“That guy looks familiar. Could he be the legendary ‘Huang’?”
“Heavens, I think it really is him! He matches the descriptions, and I’ve glimpsed his portrait before.”
Some gasped in shock.
In an instant, many shuddered. This demon king had declared he was hungry and was hunting down disciples of major sects. It wasn’t hard to guess what would happen next.
In a single day, he had devoured seven or eight first-generation disciples, even feasting on braised golden-winged rocs. Such brutality had terrified countless creatures half a year ago.
Soon, in a ruin:
Treasure light soared into the sky, and angry shouts rang out.
“Demon Sunflower Garden, your people tried to kill me in the Lower Realm. That old sunflower even came to the Celestial Clan’s doorstep to block me in the Upper Realm. Now, I’ll collect some interest first,” Shi Hao declared.
He didn’t kill anyone but instead harvested a large bundle of black demon sunflower seeds—dark as jade, crystalline and translucent—munching on them as he walked.
“Ahhh, I love these! They’re vegetarian!” The little rabbit scampered after him, begging for some. She cracked the seeds open, eating them with relish.
In the ruins, several experts from the Demon Sunflower Garden fainted from sheer rage. It was too humiliating—their divine seeds were being treated as mere sunflower seeds.
Outside, the cultivators of various sects were dumbfounded. They wanted to laugh but felt it inappropriate, their moods growing heavy as they realized their own disciples were also in the Immortal Ancient.
This demon king was too domineering. He had just bulldozed through everything in his path, flattening all opposition in an instant.
The master of the Demon Sunflower Garden looked grim. The garden he had established was a sacred land for plant-based cultivators, revered across the world. Yet, this youth dared to treat it with such disrespect.
“These sunflower seeds are fragrant, but they don’t fill me up. I want meat—roc wings, flood dragon skewers,” Shi Hao muttered.
With his deliberate search, it wasn’t long before he found traces of his enemies. Soon, he located some members of the Fire Cloud Cave.
The Fire Cloud Cave in the outside world was an ancient site left behind by a true immortal, perfect for cultivation. The creatures living there were exceptionally powerful.
The ones Shi Hao encountered weren’t humanoid—there was a firebird, a flame hound, and a golden fire qilin beast.
These creatures were strong, but upon seeing Huang, their hatred was mixed with fear. They turned to flee immediately.
“Hahaha… Perfect! I was about to starve to death.”
The battle was a foregone conclusion. Soon, smoke rose as Shi Hao set up a cauldron to stew the divine hound and roast the fire qilin beast.
The aroma of roasted meat soon filled the air, the flesh glistening golden and crispy.
Shi Hao invited the others to feast with him, devouring the meal with gusto.
Outside, the people of the Fire Cloud Cave were livid. This descendant of the Sinful Blood had truly become their greatest nemesis.
Next, Shi Hao and his group set off toward that ancient land.
Clearly, the journey wouldn’t be peaceful. Shi Hao took the initiative, sweeping through a host of enemies—all disciples of sects destined to oppose him.
This overwhelming, unstoppable dominance stunned the outside observers. Many began to wonder—had this guy truly taken that step?
*Crack!*
Suddenly, Shi Hao heard a crisp sound from his cosmos pouch. His heart stirred, and he stopped to retrieve a golden silkworm cocoon.
He opened his palm, cradling it.
The Emperor Butterfly was finally stirring after its long slumber.
The golden cocoon cracked, then burst open with a *pop*. A golden butterfly, barely an inch long, emerged in a dazzling display of light, fluttering gracefully in the air.
It had broken free of its cocoon and transformed into a true butterfly!
Now, it had real wings, no longer just a golden silkworm with transparent divine wings.
“Wonderful!” Shi Hao laughed heartily.
The Emperor Butterfly danced around him, its movements elegant, like a tiny sprite brimming with joy.
Cao Yusheng and Qing Yi were both shaken. They knew the origins of this divine insect—it was likely to become an Emperor Butterfly in the future!
“Hungry…” The Emperor Butterfly transmitted its first thought, making everyone speechless. It truly was a perfect match for Shi Hao!
Shi Hao laughed and took out a half-divine fruit, feeding it directly to the butterfly. Though he didn’t have many saint herbs or half-divine fruits left, he could certainly satisfy the Emperor Butterfly.
“This butterfly is so beautiful. It’d look perfect perched on my silver hair, like a natural hairpin,” the little rabbit said, blinking her big eyes.
Hearing this, Shi Hao quickly plucked the Emperor Butterfly from his hair and placed it on his shoulder instead. Otherwise, it would look ridiculous.
The others laughed.
“Where is that ancient land? How much farther?” Shi Hao asked.
“Let me take out a treasure to obscure the workings of fate. This place can’t be revealed,” Cao Yusheng said.
He was naturally worried about outsiders peering through the immortal dao petals to discover the location. So, he took out a bone artifact, causing their images on the petals to blur, making them invisible to the outside world.
“This is the last opening of the Immortal Ancient. Even if people learn of that ancient land, it won’t matter anymore,” Shi Hao said.
“True, but let’s keep this bone artifact active until we reach that place,” Cao Yusheng agreed.
At the same time, he warned Shi Hao, Qing Yi, and the little rabbit to be careful once they arrived. The place would be filled with experts, including ancient freaks.
**Burial Realm, Broken Heaven Mountain.**
This minor world was mysterious, inaccessible to ordinary people. In the past, only a select few knew of it—either the most powerful first-generation disciples or ancient freaks.
“Huh? Why are there so many people?” Cao Yusheng was surprised. This wasn’t what he had expected.
“It must be because this is the last opening of the Immortal Ancient. Many no longer care to keep secrets, so word has spread, and more creatures know about it now,” Qing Yi reasoned.
“There are tribes here too?” Shi Hao’s heart trembled.
“Yes. Be very careful not to provoke the tribal creatures,” Cao Yusheng warned.
These were the original inhabitants of the Immortal Ancient—mysterious and powerful. They rarely left their settlements.
*Hmm?!*
Shi Hao was startled. The moment he approached, he sensed an immortal dao aura, making his heart race.
Having successfully taken that step and cultivated a strand of immortal energy, he was highly sensitive to such a presence. He faintly felt the energy within him being nourished.
“What’s going on?” Shi Hao’s mind buzzed. Just now, he had distinctly sensed many imprinted auras—one of which seemed to belong to the Willow God!
What kind of place was this? He was utterly shocked.
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